Oil-burning heating apparatus



March 31, 1931. A. .1. GILBERT OIL BURNING HEATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Shee 1 Filed April 16, 1926 gy mj March 31, 1931. A. J. GILBERT 1,798,323

OIL BURNING HEATING APPARATUS Filed p l 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @ZQW.

March 31, 1931. A. J. GILBERT OIL BURNING HEATING APPARATUS Filed April 16. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 "IIIIIIIIIIJ'IIA :2

Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES ALFRED JOHN GILBERT, OF WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT OIL-BURNING HEATING APPARATUS Application filed April 16,

My invention relates to that class of heating apparatus more especially intended for the use of oil fuel, and an object of my invention, among others, is the production of an apparatus of this kind that shall be particularly eiiicient in operatlon.

One form of apparatus embodying my 1nvention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained, is illustrated 1n the accompanying drawlngs, 1 n wh ch- Figure 1 is a view partially 1n s de elevation and partiall in vertical section of an apparatus embo ying my invention, the

wiring being omitted.

Figure 2 is a detail view, on enlarged scale, of the mixer.

Figure 3 is a view in elevatlon of the motor, pump, switch case and controlling chamber, the latter being cut in central section and the switch case being broken away to show construction.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of the same, but looking from the right at the devlce as shown in Figure 3, the controller chamber being cut in central section and the front plate of the switch case being removed.

Figure 5 is a top view with parts broken away to show construction.

Flgure 6 is a detail view in lengthwise section through the burner supply case and parts supported thereby. Figure 7 is a view looking 1n the same direction at the device of Figure 6, with parts broken away to show construction and with the burner supply tube and parts adJacent thereto broken off.

Figure 8 is a detail view in section on a plane denoted by the dotted line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a detail view, scale enlarged, on a plane denoted by the dotted line 99 of Figure 6, parts below being omitted.

Figure 10 (Sheet I), is a view in central section through the water reservoir.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 5 indicates a supply tank for oil or other similar liquid that is to be used as a fuel in the apparatus, this tank being connected by a pipe 6 with a mixer 7 embodying 1926. Serial No. 102,576.

a main chamber 8 to which air and fuel are admitted, the former through an air supply pipe 9 and the latter through said pipe 6. This main chamber contains a float 10 having a guide rod 11 extending upwardly into a ide opening 12 in a cap 13 of the mixer.

his mixer 7 is shown in detail in Figure 2 wherein all of the parts are clearly illustrated.

There is a port in the bottom of the mixer, at the oil inlet thereinto, this port being formed in the bottom of a nipple 14 secured in the inlet end of the inlet opening to the case, the pipe 6 being secured in the opposite end of said opening. This port has two oppositely facing valve seats located on opposite sides of the bottom of the nipple. A valve 15 is supported at the lower end of a stem projecting downwardly from the bottom of the float 10 and contacts with the outer valve seat to control flow inwardly through the inlet opening, and a valve 16 is located higher up to contact with the inner valve seat to prevent flow inwardly through the inlet opening, should the float 7 unintentionally settle.

A mixing chamber 17 is formed in one side of the case comprising the mixer with an air inlet openin 18 to said chamber over the top of a divi ing wall 19 between the main chamber 8 and the mixing chamber 17 A valve fixture 20 having an opening lengthwise therethrough and a valve seat surrounding a port 21 into said opening at the inner end thereof extends across the chamber 17 near its bottom, with ports opening laterally through the wall of the fixture into the chamber 17 This fixture may be secured in place in any suitable manner and a valve 22. of the needle type, extends through the fixture with its end comprising the valve located to control flow through the port 21. This valve has a screw threaded engagement with the fixture, its outer end extending through a n stufiing box 23 in the end of the fixture, and

as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The upper end of the pipe 9 is located above the top of the tank 5.

A feed pipe 24 extends from the mixer 7 upwardly and then downwardly to a controlling chamber comprising a case 25 secured to and depending from the under side of a table 26 supported by suitable standards, and as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The highest part of this pipe is lo cated above the top of the supply tank 5. The chamber 25 is provided with two dams 27-28, the top edge of the former being lower than the top edge of the latter. These dams are shaped to form pockets 29-30. A'

controlling valve fixture 31 having an opening lengthwise therethrough and a valve seat surrounding a port 32 at one end of the fixture and leading thereinto extends across the pocket 30 near the bottom thereof with ports opening laterally through the walls of the fixture into the pocket 30. This fixture may be secured in place in any suitable manner, and a controlling valve 33, of the needle type, extends through the fixture with its end comprising the valve located to control flow through the port 32. This valve has a screw threaded engagement with the fixture and its outer end extends through a stufiing box 34 at the end of the fixture, and as shown in Figures 3 and of the drawings.

A mixture of oil and air entering the chamber through the pipe 24 the oil settles to the bottom of the chamber and. the level thereof rises until it flows over the first dam 27 into the pocket 29, from whence it flows through the fixture 31 and through the lateral ports therein into the pocket 30. The valve 33 in this chamber is not opened quite as much as the valve 22 in the mixer 7, while the head of oil is approximately the same in the supply to both of the chambers 8 and 25, and consequently less oil will flow through the port 32 than through the port 21, with a result that the oil level will gradually rise in the chamber 25 until it flows over the dam 28. The air passing over the top of the dam 28 will be mixed with the oil in the pocket and this mixture of oil and air will be drawn from said pocket through a pipe 35 extending from a point near the bottom of the pocket upwardly/to a pump 36 secured to the end of a motor 37 mounted on the top of the table 26.

A float 38 is located in the chamber 25 and has a stem 39 extendingupwardly through the top of said chamber to a switch apparatus for controlling operation of the motor and hence of the pump 36.

This switch apparatus comprises a tiltable support 40 pivotally attached at one end to one wall of a switch case 41 secured to and rising from the top of the table 26, and as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. A mobile switch 42 in the form of an inclosed receptacle to contain a mobile electrical conductor, preferably in the form of a liquid, as mercury, is secured to and carried by the support 40, and has terminals projecting into it, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, these side of said case. Two wires extend from the terminal plate 45 to the terminals of the motor 37, these wires being in the form of a cable 48, and as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. One of these-wires is connected with the wire 43 and the other of said wires is connected with a wire 49 extending from a binding screw on the plate 45 tea binding screw on a terminal 50 on the late 46. Two ,wires 5152 are connected with any suitable source of electric energy, these wires being connected respectively with the terminals 50 and 47, and by means of which an electric current is conducted to and from the motor 37.

A pipe 53 extends from the pump 36 to a burner supply chamber comprising a case 54 adjustably supported on standards 55-56 located underneath a heater 57 supported in any suitable manner and as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. A mixture of oil and air is delivered from the pump 36 through the pipe 53 to a nozzle 58 by which said mixture is projected against the blades of a turbine 59 rotatably mounted within the case 54 and from which the oil falls to the bottom of said case.

Said turbine is secured to the lower end of a burner tip shaft 60, a burner tip 61 compris ing the upper end of said shaft, This shaft extends through a burner supply tube 62 extending upwardly from the case 54, and as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. A burner supply pipe 63 extends upwardly from a point near the bottom of-the case 54 to a burner supply passage 64 formed in the case 54, which passage delivers into the tube 62. The pipe 63 has an oil port 65near the bottom thereof, and alarger air port 66 located higher up. The oil and air flow through said ports by reasonof pressure created by the pump, and to and up through the tube 62 to the burner tip 61, and the action of the slowly rotating turbine and burner tip evens up the flame of the burner, which flame might otherwise be uneven by reason of particles of dirt passing through the tube.

The oil and air passing up to the burner tip are automatically mixed in the following manner I The oil settles at the bottom of the case or chamber 54 and gradually rises until it creates a pressure sufiicient to force the incoming supply through port 65. The air flows through the port 66 by reason of the pressure in the chamber 54 and carries the oil up through the tube 62. The shaft 60 is vertically movable and the pressure created in the -tube 62 raises the burner tip 61 and permits the mlxture of oil and air to escape underlUU neath said vtip, at whichpoint it is ignited to create a flame.

The rotating mass including the shaft and turbine are made of a certain definite weight with relation to the pressure contemplated within the tube 62 and thereby the discharge pressure at the tip 61 is maintained constant and the rotating mass is caused to ride on a thrust bearing of oil and air.

Some of the oil and air passes through holes 67 extending through the wall of the burner tip preferably tangentially to the recess 68 therein and said tip is provided with radially extending bearing arms 69 fitting the inner wall of the tube 62 and thereby constituting a radial bearing for the tip and shaft.

Some of said oil and air passing through the holes 67 into the recess 68 flows out at the mouth of said recess, the air escaping gently therefrom, the oil spreading over the upper end of the tip keeping the latter cool and preventing the formation of carbon thereon, said oil finally passing over the edge of said tip where it is burned with the air and oil passing out underneath the tip.

In order to further cool the burner tip and also the upper end of the burner tube and prevent the formation of carbon thereon an outer tube or jacket 70 is provided, its lower end being secured to a hub 71 on the top of the case 54, this hub having a chamber within which the cooling fluid, as water, is supplied through a pipe 72 extending from a reservoir 73 that may be supplied as through a pipe 74 from any suitable source of supply, a float 75 within this reservoir being connected with a valve 76 by means of which fiow of water or other cooling liquid to the chamber within the hub 71 is controlled.

A catch basin 77 may be supported by the tube 70 toreceive any superfluous oil that may flow out at the month of the burner. The reservoir 73 is located at such height as to keep the level of the liquid within the tube 70 just below the mouth of said tube.

As ameans for controlling flow of fluid effected by the pump 36 I provide means for breaking or restoring the vacuum created by said pump in the pipe 24, in the structure herein shown a vent pipe 78 extending from the pipe 24 to a valve fixture having a valve controlling an inlet opening through said fixture 79 to said pipe, and as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The valve 80 is connected to and operated by a thermostatic bar 81 located in a stack 82 leading from the heater 57. This valve is normally open when the apparatus is not running, and when the apparatus is started up the action of the pump will be ineffective to draw oil and air from the mixer 7 and deliver it to the chamber 25, and until the bar 81 has been sufiiciently heated to close the .valve 80, whereupon the action of the pump will become effective to cause flow of fluid through the entire apparatus.

Any suitable a paratus commonly employed in connectlon with heaters of this type may be employed for controlling the operation of the motor, a simple form having been illustrated by me herein and which comprises an electric switch 83 for controlling supply of electric current to the motor.

Under normal conditions the fuel, as oil, will be contained in the several receptacles about as shown in the drawings. Upon closing the switch 83 the motor will be started and will force the oil andair from the chamber 25 into the burner supply chamber 5 1, and therefrom to the burner Where it will be ignited by a pilot light (not herein shown) in a manner common to devices of this class. Owing to the fact that the valve 80 is open,

however, as hereinbefore stated, no oil will be drawn from the mixer 7. The supply of oil in the pockets 2930 and case 54 will be sufiicient to provide the burner with fuel long enough to heat the bar 81 and thereby close the valve 80 after which the operation of the apparatus will continue under normal conditions, the oil and air being caused to flow from the mixer 7, which is supplied from the tank 5, through the pipe 24 to the chamber 25, and from said chamber through the pump and pipe 53 to the case 54, and from thence to the burner, and this operation will continue so long as the switch 83 remains closed and the motor is in operation.

Should the'flame at the burner be unintentionally extinguished the bar 81 will become cooled, thereby opening the valve 80 and shutting off flow of oil from the mixer 7 to the chamber 25. The oil will continue to flow from the chamber 25 and be supplied to the burner until the oil level in said chamber is lowered below the top edge of the pocket 29. At this time the float Wlll be lowered sufliciently to tilt the support 40 thereby opening the switch 42 and shutting off the electric current thereby stopping operation of the motor. The oil that will flow from the chamber 25 to the burner during this period ,will not be sufficient to do harm, as 1t will simply flow from the burner and be caught in the basin 77 and be distributed in a manner to create no ill effects.

Should the float 10 become inoperative and settle in the oil in the mixer 7 the valve 1.6 will close the opening into the mixer and the oil supply being thus shut off the flame at the burner will be eventually extinguished.

While the opening through which the stem 39 from the float 38 passes is shown with considerable clearance, it will be understood that this is not suflicient to destroy the partial vacuum created by the pump.

The object of the turbine to rotate the burner tip results in an even flame being produced at the burner.

whenever there may not be suificient oil to automatically'efi'ect this purpose. a

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes 1 have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the device which I now consider to represent the hestembodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set out. i

I claim-- .1. An oil burning heating apparatus including a burner, a source of fuel supply, a connection for fiow of fuel from said supply to said burner, saidconnection including a controller chamber with a pocket therein having the up er edge of its wall above the bottom of said chamber for overflow of oil in said chamber, said connection communicating with said pocket for outflow of fuel from said chamber, a float located in said chamber, means for forcing fuel from said chamber to said burner, a device for controlling operation of said forcing means, and a connection between said device and said float whereby operation of the former is governed by the latter.

2. An oil burning heating apparatus in cluding a burner, a source of fuel supply, a connection for flow of fuel from said supply to said burner, said connection including a controller chamber, means for forcing fuel from said chamber to said burner, two pockets located insaid chamber with their walls rising from the bottom thereof and with a communicating passage between said pockets at the lower part thereof, said connection extending from one of said pockets to said forcing means, a device for controlling operation of said forcing means, a float in said chamber, and a connection between said device and said float whereby operation of the former is controlled by operation of the latter.

,3. An oil burning heating apparatus ineluding a burner, a source of fuel supply, a connection for flow of fuel from said supplyto said burner, said connection including a controller chamber, means for forcing fuel from said chamber to said burner, two pockets located in said chamber with their walls rising from the bottom thereof, one of said walls being higher than the other and there being a communicating passage between said pockets at the lower part thereof, and said connection extending from the pocket having the highest wall to said forcing means, a device for controlling operation of said forcing means, a float in said chamber, and a connection be tween said device and said float whereby operation of the former is controlled by the latter. l

4:. An oil burning heating apparatus including a burner,'a source of fuel supply,,a connection for flow of fuel from said supply to 'said burner, said connection including a mixer chamber with a dividing wall therein, an opening over the top of said wall, and a communicating passage between the chambers created by said wall, said connection opening out of one of said chambers, means for controlling flow of fuel to said last mentioned chamber, and means for effecting flow of fuel through said connection to said burner.

5. An oil burning heating apparatus including a burner, a source of fuel supply, a connection for flow of fuel'from said supply to said burner, said connection including a mixer chamber with a dividing wall therein, an opening through the bottom of said wall establishing communication between the two chambers, an opening over the top of said wall, said connection opening out of one of said chambers, a float within the other chamher, a valve connected with said float to regulate delivery of fuel to said chamber, means for controlling flow of fuel between said chambers, and means for efiecting flow of fuel throu h said-connection to said burner.

6. in oil burning heating apparatus in cluding a burner, a source of fuel supply, a connection for flow of fuel from said supply to said burner, said connection including a mixer chamber with a dividing wall therein, an opening over the top of said wall and a communicating passage between the chamhers created by said wall, said connection opening out of one of said chambers, a float within the other of said chambers, a valve device connected with said float to regulate delivery of fuel to said chamber and to prevent said delivery when the fioatis in a raised or lowered position, means for controlling flow of fuel between said chamber, and means for efiectin flow of fuel through said connection with said burner.

An Oll burnlngheatingapparatuslncluding a burner, a source of fuel supply, a connection for flow of fuel from said supply to said burner, said connection including a mixor chamber having a dividing wall with an openingover the top of said wall and a communicating passage between said chambers created by sald wall, said connection opening out of one of said chambers, an air supply pipe for said chamber, the upperend of said loo pipe being located above the oil supply, a float within the other of said chambers, a valve connected with said float to regulate delivery of fuel to said chamber, means for controlling flow of fuel between said chamber, and means for effectin flow of fuel through said connection to said urner.

8. Anoil burning heatin apparatusincluding a burner, a source of e1 supply, a connection for flow of fuel from said supply to said burner, said connection includm a mixer chamber and a controller cham r, each of said chambers havin a dividing wall creating an outlet pocket rom which said connection opens and with a communicating passage between the main compartment and outlet pocket in each of said chambers, a valve to regulate flow to each of said pockets, and means for forcing fuel from said controller chamber to said burner.

ALFRED J OHN GHJBERT- 

